Women, You Are Not Going Crazy; Your Hormones Are Changing
If you’re a woman in your 30s, 40s, or 50s and have been struggling with mood swings, brain fog, anxiety, fatigue, or unexplained weight gain, you may have been told by your doctor that you’re just stressed or depressed.
Worse, you may have been handed a prescription for antidepressants without any further investigation into what’s actually happening in your body.
You are not alone.
Millions of women experiencing perimenopause and menopause are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or simply ignored by traditional medicine.
The problem? Instead of addressing the root cause of hormonal imbalance, many conventional physicians default to treating symptoms with psychiatric medications that fail to solve the underlying issue.
The Medical System Is Failing Women in Perimenopause and Menopause
Perimenopause and menopause are not diseases. They are natural transitions, but they can bring about life-altering symptoms that should not be brushed off.
Yet, in traditional healthcare settings, many women report being met with skepticism when they express concerns about sudden anxiety, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, or brain fog.
The answer? Often, a prescription for an antidepressant, without any discussion about testing to assess declining estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels.
This approach is outdated and dismissive.
While antidepressants may be appropriate in some cases, they do not address the root cause of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms: hormonal decline. Women deserve better.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Science-Backed Solution
The right solution is often bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which restores the hormones that naturally decline during perimenopause and menopause. BHRT has been extensively studied and shown to improve mood, cognitive function, energy levels, metabolism, and overall well-being.
Unlike synthetic hormones, bioidentical hormones are molecularly identical to those produced by the human body, allowing for safer and more effective symptom relief.
The Benefits of BHRT for Perimenopause and Menopause
When properly prescribed by a qualified functional or longevity medicine physician, BHRT can:
- Reduce anxiety and depression by stabilizing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels
- Improve cognitive function and eliminate brain fog
- Restore deep, restful sleep by regulating cortisol and melatonin levels
- Boost metabolism and reduce unexplained weight gain
- Alleviate hot flashes and night sweats
- Enhance libido and vaginal health
The key is personalized care. Functional and longevity medicine physicians use advanced diagnostic testing to assess your hormone levels and create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your body’s needs.
Advocating for Women’s Health: You Deserve Better Care
It’s time to shift the conversation. Women should not be gaslit into believing that their symptoms are imaginary or simply part of aging. We must demand a healthcare system that prioritizes root-cause medicine over symptom suppression.
If you’re struggling with perimenopause or menopause symptoms and have been told “it’s just in your head,” seek out a functional medicine practitioner who specializes in bioidentical hormone therapy. Your body isn’t failing you—you just need the right support to restore balance and vitality.
Take the First Step Toward Real Relief
If you’ve been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or prescribed antidepressants without a hormone evaluation, you are not alone. You deserve real solutions, not Band-Aid fixes.
Functional and longevity medicine offers science-backed approaches that honor your body’s natural changes and restore optimal health.
Let’s change the narrative. Perimenopause and menopause are transitions, not the end of feeling like yourself. With the right medical support, you can feel vibrant, strong, and in control of your health again.
Dr. Sadia Ali attended FIU in her hometown of Miami, Florida, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry. She attended medical school at USF Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida, and completed her Family Medicine Residency Training at Atrium Health in Concord, North Carolina.
Dr. Ali completed her medical training in Winter Park, Florida, where she was a Junior Faculty and became fellowship-trained in Women’s Health & Obstetrics. Dr. Ali is also trained in functional, aesthetic & obesity medicine.